Time for a running wardrobe change, need advice

This summer I have been running in pretty humid and hot weather and the routes have been hilly. Consequently I have sweated a lot! Tonight I did a 6.47 mile run and had perspired a lot, my shirt was drenched in sweat. What I have worn for my four years as a runner have been just random race shirts or other sport tournament shirts. They are 100% cotton!

Tonight when I got back to my room and looked in the mirror, I had noticed two large spots of red, from where the shirt had caused irritation at my nipples and actually caused bleeding. I knew that on Saturday one of them had become irritated, but today it was both.

I know a lot of people wear tec shirts or whatever. Will this help with this new problem I am experiencing? What advice could ya'll give me?

Body Glide and tech shirts. The tech shirts help a lot, my nipples don't blead if I forget to put body glide on, but they don't exactly feel good either. I've used te same tube of body glide for nearly three years, it goes a long way.

Yeah, this is a real nuisance. The switch from cotton to high-tech fabrics alone will not alleviate the problem, as you will still get some chafing. As others have said, Body Glide or Band-Aids work well. Personally, I use Band-Aids on any run over two hours. I sometimes get a little chafing on runs of lesser duration, but not enough to cause bleeding. For marathons, I am extra careful: I apply a small dab of petroleum jelly, then cover with Band-Aids. Doing this, even if the Band-Aids happen to come off, I'm still protected. One other tip: I would add whatever protective measure you choose to your race-day checklist, as it's an easy thing to forget about given the excitement and all the logistical concerns that go with race day.

About an hour is the threshold for me when I need some nip protection. I used to do bandaids, but now I use RightGuard XtremeSport Gel (not solid). Great stuff. I glob it on and let it dry a bit before I put my shirt on. I've used it for years in the other chafing areas. I think it's better than bodyglide or vaseline. ScottyDog alerted me to it a decade or more ago.

I had the same problem once my distances started increasing. I went the Band-Aid route. These really stay put...enough that they actually last for several days through runs and showers. They were only a couple bucks at Walgreens.

BTW, I forgot my Band-Aids the other day. I realized it as I was driving to the airport where I was running that morning. I figured it wouldn't hurt to go without them just one time. Wrong...oh so very wrong. I didn't understand the strange looks I was getting until I got home and went to take my shirt off and saw that it looked like I had been shot in the chest...twice. I couldn't shower for two days.

I had the same problem once my distances started increasing. I went the Band-Aid route. These really stay put...enough that they actually last for several days through runs and showers. They were only a couple bucks at Walgreens.

I use these also, but the last box holy &*^%.. those things stick too well. I can't hardly get the things off and god forbid I have a random chest hair underneath. I might need to find another solution....

band aids work ok, but the nexcare tape is in a roll and you tear off a pc. and seems easier to use than band aids. And it also seems for me to stick better, the band aid does not work as well for me for some reason.

Is this what I have to look forward too when I get my distances and endurance up? Man I never knew but I guess it makes sense. Now I can justify to myself and wife the expense of buying a few tech shirts.

I run with tech shirts and only have a problem when it rains - then the shirt comes off before any damage is done!

Ya, the tech. shirt does not stop the bloody nipple problem for me, only if it's the tight fitting UR like shirts I only wear in winter under other clothes. Anything that fits me loose will cause a problem.

I had the same problem once my distances started increasing. I went the Band-Aid route. These really stay put...enough that they actually last for several days through runs and showers. They were only a couple bucks at Walgreens.

+1....I no longer fear the after run shower or white shirts on a long run!

My 10k earlier in the year had this guy run across the line he was doing the HM but his was just as bad as this.

I am body glyde guy to hair to use anything sticky also I barely chafe so little BD does the job. Some of that new wavy tech they have been giving out the last year rubs me more but not to the bloody point.

I have the same problem with most loose fitting tech shirts, especially race tech shirts cause you gotta remember that they are buying a lesser grade to keep it cheap. Right now, I pretty much run without a shirt on all my training runs. Just don't need one in steamy Georgia. If I have to wear one I wear a Nike Pro-Combat compression shirt, especially if I have to wear my hydration race vest or Amphipod belt. The compression shirt doesn't move, so it doesn't chafe. I have worn them on all my ultras this year with no chaffing. If I am running anything further than 5 miles and I have to wear a shirt I am gonna tape the nips with tape like the Nexcare show above.

Oh, and when you start having lovely problems with crotch chafing I recommend going to Brooks shorts and making sure they are not too big. I dropped a size in my shorts and went to the Brooks Sherpas and all the crotch chafing I had with the Nike shorts vanished.

I am on a budget so I had to cut out buying luxury items to go running. I decided to find my own home remedy for my nipples chaffing. I rubbed some natural peanut butter on them and did not have any irritation at all. I have been doing this for months and it just works. I'm sure other brands like Jif or Peter Pan will work as well if you don't use natural.

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